Railing and the like



May 17, 1938. G. H. GAscolGNE Er AL 2,117,798

RAILING AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 21, 1957 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

and 0B BY May 17, 1938# G. H. GAscolGNE ET AL 2,117,798

- l RAILING AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 21, 1957 Y* 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILING AND THE LIKE land Application January 21, 1937, Serial No. 121,702 In Great Britain January 27, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to railings and the like and has particular but not exclusive reference to the erection of strong steel tubular fencing or railing such as is required alongside the footways of busy streets, and in parks, amusement grounds and other public places, to act as a guide, barrier, or protection to the public. The invention is, however, equally applicable to the erection of more complex structures such as tubular steel sheds and the like.

For the purpose of quick erection and occasional dismantling of such railings or structures, and with a View to cheapness and simplicity, a system involving universally applicable clamps and plain steel tubing of standard size Oilers great advantages, but in the case for example of railings, where the upright members or posts may be fixed, a neat cylindrical t between the tube ends and the clamps renders assembling and dismantling troublesome because only a truly axial or endwise movement of the tubes is possible; moreover a neat cylindrical t presents diiculties in the case of railings extending along a gradient or over undulating ground.

The chief object of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned disabilities and to provide an improved system of railings or tubular frameworks or structures by the provision of an improved tubular clamp for housing or connecting the ends of the tubular members or rails, where they form T-shaped junctions.

With the above object in view the improved tubular clamp of T-form for the reception of the ends of three tubes is characterized by the fact that itsinternal shape in the direction of the two j slight disaligning movement of one end of a length of tubing after release from its clamp permits oi" a large movement of the other end of the tubing when disengagement with its corresponding clamp is desired. It will therefore be understood that the erection as well as the assembling and dismantling of railings extending along gradients or over undulating ground presents no difficulty.

The above described characteristic of the present invention is not broadly new for clamps in general such as pipe unions and is only claimed herein as applied to clamps for T-joints in which connection it presents particular advantages.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in its most important application to kerb railings` and in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of a length of kerb railing comprising standards and tubular rails interconnected by the improved clamps.

Figure 2 shows in elevation a portion of railing with top and bottom rails coupled to permit of being removed as a unit to break the continuity as and when required.

Figure 3 shows in vertical section and on an enlarged scale the assembly at the tops of two adjacent standards.

Figure 4 is a view of a pinching screw and key therefor.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section, Figure 6 a horizontal longitudinal section, and Figure 7 a cross section of a form of clamp having means for centeringv and seating the topk of a standard therein, and xing the clamp thereto by an internal boss and pinching screw.

Referring rst to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 it is seen that the system of railing illustrated consists of standards i, tubular rails 2, T clamps 3 and elbow clamps 4. The clamps are provided with threaded radial holes in thickened portions or bosses on the clamp to receive pinching screws 5, which are preferably crater shaped at their forward end and have a square recess in their rear face to serve as a key-hole for a key 6. Each clamp, instead of being cylindrical inside, is of internally conical shape so that the rails can be easily inserted and Withdrawn without disturbing the standar-ds or their clamps. As shown in dot and pick lines in Figure 3, the top tubular rail can assume a position disaligned quite suiiiciently to enable the rail to be moved into and out of position, and similarly of course it can assume a permanent inclined position in the clamps in the case of a length of railing extending along a gradient or over undulating ground.

In the case of the lower rails the corresponding clamps on the standards are slid down them to the appropriate distance and secured there by the pinching screws. In the case of the upper rails the clamps rest on the tops of the standar-ds which, of course, enter transversely throughV lateral holes. As shown in Figure 3 each top rail clamp has an internal projection 1 to abut against and limit the extent of entry of the top of its standard; an alternative arrangement is illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 and will be hereinafter described.

An occasional gap in the railing, as may be required for special occasions, can readily be made' by removing certain rails. The temporarily removed railsv may be kept ready for re-use in any convenient manner, as for example, by cross-connecting them as by coupling tubes 8 and sockets 9 to form a portable unit as shown in Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a very efficient and easily cast form of T-clamp offering several advantages as will now be described. Inside the clamp, opposite the lateral hole through which the top of a standard passes, is formed a cylindrical band 22 to form a pocket for the reception of the top of the standard. Also formed inside the clamp are two diametrically opposite stepshaped projections or shoulders 22 to engage the top edge of the standard at diametrically opposite points. These positioning and seating elements ensure a quick and accurate settlement of the clamp uponthe top of the standard. In order to fix the clamp when thus positioned, the usual pinching screw may be employed, but it is inserted in an inwardly projecting boss 23 as clearly seen in Figure 6. A particular advantage of this construction is that the smooth symmetrical external shape and appearance of the clamp is not spoilt.

Although in the foregoing description it has been assumed that the railings or structures referred to are formed from tubing, it is to be understood that instead of tubes solid rods may be employed.

We claimzy 1. A tubular T-clamp comprising a tubular stem, a tubular cross limb having its internal diameter progressively increasing from each open end inwards towards the mid point in the cross limb, and an internal cylindrical band-like projection in the cross limb opposite the tubular stem to co-operate with a transversely entering tube.

2. A tubular T-clamp comprising a tubular stem, a"tubular cross limb having its internal diameter progressively increasing from each open end inwards towards the mid point in the cross limb, and step-like internal shoulders in the cross limb opposite the tubular stem to co-operate with a transversely entering tube.

3. A tubular T-clamp comprising a tubular stem, a tubular cross limb having its internal diameter progressively increasing from each open end inwards towards the mid point in the cross a limb, an internal cylindrical band-like projection in the cross limb opposite the tubular stem to co-operate with a transversely entering tube, and external bosses on said clamp with radial screw-threaded holes therethrough for the reception of pinching screws.

4. A tubular T-clamp comprising a tubular stem, a tubular cross limb having its internal diameter progressively increasing from each open en-d inwards towards the mid point in the cross limb, an internal cylindrical band-like projection in the cross limb opposite the tubular stem to co-operate with a transversely entering tube and internal bosses in said clamp with radial screw-threaded holes therethrough for the reception of pinching screws.

GEO. H. GASCOIGNE. J. R. KNOX. 

